The recession has a stranglehold on much of southwest Florida, but billionaire Thomas Monaghan's vision for the Roman Catholic school Ave Maria University continues to take shape, even if construction isn't progressing as quickly as he had hoped.

Since the season began, we've repeated, "It's early." But no longer. May is here, and we're four full weeks into 2009. Most hitters have established an early-season footprint. It's time to judge which are facts, which are flukes, whom to target and whom to trade or just drop.

Premier Silvio Berlusconi's second wife has for years lived a very separate life from her billionaire husband, rarely participating in his official events or travels. On Sunday, she confirmed she was seeking a divorce, citing his reported flirtations with younger women.